Here we are in our final weeks of MSBA, and I can honestly say time has absolutely flown by. There are already whispers starting of the idea of saying our goodbyes in the near future. We try to stifle them as soon as they arise, as the thought of having to leave is just too much to handle.
However, Thursday night was one of the coolest experiences I have ever been fortunate enough to be a part of. Ever heard of Terminal 23? Yeah – THAT Terminal 23. The MSBA crew had the privilege of receiving a private tour of the elusive and mysterious Jordan Brand facility, and words can’t even describe what we saw.
“We got fully outfitted in the latest J’s and jerseys and took to the court, led by Nike Basketball Trainer Kurt Joseph, to settle the summer long argument of who the best ballers in the crew were.”
To begin, the entrance is completely hidden from the untrained eye. Located in the heart of Manhattan, the only clue to its whereabouts is a solid black garage door with two large illuminating cartoon eyes staring out at you as you stand on the street. Once we approached the gentleman standing silently and nonchalantly outside the door, he led us in.
As we entered Terminal 23, you could audibly hear the gasps from the group as Max Saidman, Terminal 23’s Manager, gave us a tour through the entire facility. We learned of its history of being the hottest nightclub in Manhattan, having showcased its grand ballroom and stages to entertain only the highest of elite guests. We continued to walk the same steps as so many celebrities had before us, checking out the wall of fame of all the who’s who in the world. Then came the best part – the court. We got fully outfitted in the latest J’s and jerseys and took to the court, led by Nike Basketball Trainer Kurt Joseph, to settle the summer long argument of who the best ballers in the crew were. It was quickly apparent that I was not one of them, but nonetheless had a blast playing against my fellow MSBA classmates. Afterwards, we sat down and heard from Connor Nolte, a Jordan Brand Marketing Specialist to hear all about their brand strategies and where they are looking to expand in the market in the coming future. He offered us advice on the power of having connections in the industry, and how important relationships were in his career path.
Overall, I cannot thank the Jordan Brand team and the MSBA Staff enough for arranging such a once in a lifetime event. Being able to step foot in such an iconic facility that few people have had the opportunity to experience truly shows how lucky I am to be part of MSBA.